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Merikay and her son, Gil, at Death Valley National Park 2017

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A hard day

Every day lately seems to be a hard day. I lay in bed at night and think of a dozen things I want to do the next day. Then somehow, the day slips by and I have not accomplished nearly as much as I had hope to. Yesterday I finished up sorting thru the last of our photographs and got them boxed up for storage in my daughters attic. Did I say "sorting"? That would imply they were is some sort of order. No, culling would be a better word. I got rid of a lot of duplicates, faded or out of focus images, and pictures taken from the windows of moving vehicles. I took a lot of pictures out of sticky albums, and took the pages out of many more. Just the pages, without the binders take up less room. The final result was one medium tote and one smaller box.I have also finished going thru 25 years of house repair and improvement receipts. The good ones will go with us for a final evaluation someday in the next year. So with those two big paper jobs out of the way, (they have dominated the dining room table for weeks) I decided to start cleaning the room. Someone suggested taking the approach of attacking one room at a time and when it is done, sort of close it for use and move on. This is what I'm doing. In a way it is good to have a deadline. If we waited until everything was done we would never put the house on the market. For now I have com to terms with not having time to get rid of everything I want to get rid of, or finish all of the little jobs we want to finish before listing. So, now I have a list of "must do now" and what can wait.I'm not sure we can finish the must dos, but we will try.I thought I could get the dining room floor scrubbed today. We have several large plants that have leaked water onto the tiles over the years and I have to try to get them clean. But all I could get finished today was to get the room ready by moving some of the furniture out. Oh well, I should be able to finish it tomorrow.We had planned on going to San Francisco to see a race, but it turns out there will not be one. It would have been nice to take a day off, even if we can't afford the time, but it just isn't going to happen.Today we had the septic tank pumped and inspected. With the inspection, the cost was double what I paid a few years ago! Good news is the leach field is good and the system is healthy. Bad news is there are a few "minor" repairs needed and the estimate is for another hunk of change. They charge $150 an hour for work inside the tank. But it has to be done, so the guy will be back on Friday to do them. I have been assured it is best to get these things taken care of in advance.The dreaded "pest control" inspection will be done on Friday. We have done so much work already, I just don't see what they could find to report. Actually there are a couple of very small things still on the list that might be cited. For now, I am just so tired, and yet I know the hardest days are yet to come.We have decided if we don't get everything on the must do list finished, we will postpone our trip. It will mean losing our reservation, but we can still go somewhere for a week or two.This post has been full of "I" did this and "I" did that. Craig has also been working his butt off. I really do appreciate him.

Jeepers. You just about described my life most days! The picture sorting part, the part where you have things to do that you don't seem to get done...AND, we're not going anywhere. Some times I write a short list, but that can get depressing.You'll get there.

I would also agree that a day off sounds like a good idea. It may seem counterproductive when you still have so many things you want to get done, but you will get more accomplished if you have had a break.

I remember those days, and the depressing tired feeling from months of neverending chores. Hang on! The finish line (AKA the starting line) is SO worth it!!

Hang in there. The rewarding end is so near, but these last few weeks are tough. You will get there!!! Just keep your eye on that light at the end of the tunnel. We also had a septic system at our house. It passed inspection, but also needed some repair work costing us about $1,000. We were happy to pay it rather than having to pay for a new septic system!

Oh Merikay, I feel your pain. We were in your shoes just over a year ago...but John was recovering from his hospital stay. When I started doing one room and shutting the door, it helped. Just to walk down the hall and see a shut door...priceless! Sometimes, when I could not sleep, I just got up and did something quiet. No different than lying in bed and fretting. This phase will soon be over, take my work for it.

Hi Merikay. I am just now getting back to reading blogs as you know the computer was gone. I just don't have the eyesight to read them on my iPhone and trying to comment is a nightmare. I was glad to be able to read yours and see where you were in your move. You have come along way since I last visited and you sure brought back memories. I know it seems like days you are drowning but you are getting there inch by inch. Just keep thinking of the reward at the end and it will make it all worth while. I agree taking some time off would help you. It did us we just left. Good luck and I hope it all speeds by for you. You WILL get there.

It's been a lot of work. Ya'll have accomplished so much on the house, I'm so impressed! Sounds like the two of you could use a day, or at least an afternoon off. Go to a movie or out to dinner somewhere & regroup. Treat yourselves!